Did the Movie Emperor Blow His Cover Today? - Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Miao Miao’s outburst was like a bucket of cold water dousing a flickering flame, instantly extinguishing Tao Hui’s excitement. Her face expressionless, she spat three words into her phone: “Han Buji.”

“What?” Miao Miao clearly hadn’t heard properly, her voice confused. “What chicken (ji)? Who’s the chicken (ji)?”

Tao Hui took a deep breath, enunciating each word clearly and deliberately: “I’m dating Han Buji.”

Miao Miao’s chatterbox finally fell silent. After a long pause, Tao Hui put the phone on speaker, tossed it onto the bed, and went to drink half a glass of warm water. When she returned, there was still no sound from the phone.

I hope this bombshell didn’t scare Miao Miao to death…

Tao Hui tentatively asked, “Miao Miao? Are you still alive?”

“…Sister Huihui, what—what did you just say?” Miao Miao’s voice was faint, as if she were sleepwalking, repeating in disbelief, “You’re dating? With Han Buji?”

Though she had spoken with such confidence moments ago, Tao Hui suddenly felt embarrassed, her face flushing crimson. She patted her burning cheeks and repeated, “I’m dating Han Buji.”

“Aaaah! Aaaaaaaah!” Miao Miao let out a piercing shriek, its intensity rivaling that of a groundhog spirit.

Tao Hui jumped in fright, her phone clattering to the floor. A hairline crack appeared on the tempered glass screen protector, which she ruthlessly tore off and tossed into the trash.

After the marmot spirit’s shriek persisted for three minutes, Tao Hui finally managed to communicate properly with Miao Miao. But the moment Miao Miao heard that Tao Hui’s romantic interest was Han Buji, her previous “I’m so worried about you, my dear friend” act vanished completely. She became utterly absorbed in the excitement that her master had snagged her idol.

Ironically, Tao Hui, amid Miao Miao’s earlier torrent of curses, had regained a sliver of rationality and grown more apprehensive about her sudden romance.

Thus, their conversation took a bizarre turn.

Tao Hui: “Miao Miao, do you think Han Buji might be lying to me? This whole thing feels too sudden…”

Miao Miao: “Too sudden! It’s too sudden! I just prayed at the temple yesterday, and my wish came true today! Ah! The No Way CP is killing me!”

Tao Hui: “…?”

Tao Hui: “Didn’t you just say that sudden romances like this are always just about hooking up?”

Miao Miao: “Will the wedding be overseas? Do they cover round-trip airfare? Can I wear a pink bridesmaid dress? Can I take extra wedding candy home to put on my altar?”

Tao Hui: “……?”

Tao Hui: “Miao Miao, I just remembered—Han Buji hasn’t actually told me he likes me yet!”

Miao Miao: “Have you found a postpartum care center? How many children are you planning to have? Have you chosen names for them? Are you and the Best Actor hoping for boys or girls?”

Tao Hui: “……?”

After hanging up, Tao Hui collapsed onto her bed, exhausted, lying flat on her back with her eyes glazed over.

Come to think of it, Han Buji had never actually said “I like you.” It was she who had shamelessly confessed her feelings under his subtle prodding.

So undignified!

That old man Han Buji really knew his tricks. She had been passive during their kisses, and even when it came to exchanging sweet words, she had been the one to initiate.

He claimed it was all his first time? Pfft! He’s clearly a master of these tactics!

Tao Hui puffed out her cheeks, feeling a surge of indignation.

This won’t do! It’s only been a day, and I’ve already lost control at every turn. How am I supposed to live like this in the future?!

Tossing and turning, she grabbed her phone and sent Han Buji a WeChat message:

[ Once upon a time, there were two little rabbits. One was named “I Like You,” and the other was named “I Don’t Like You.” One day, “I Don’t Like You” went out. What’s the name of the remaining rabbit? ]

After sending the message, Tao Hui pressed her hand against her pounding heart, anxiously awaiting Han Buji’s reply on WeChat. Less than a minute later, her phone buzzed, and she could feel the vibration in her palm, making her heart race even faster.

She couldn’t pinpoint exactly when she had fallen so deeply for him.

Tao Hui pressed her thumb against the home button, unlocking her phone with her fingerprint. The WeChat app opened to her previous conversation with Little Fanboy, a simple exchange consisting mostly of messages like “Wanna play a game?” and “One more round?”

At the bottom of the chat lay the cheesy pickup line she had just sent, along with Han Buji’s reply:

<i>Still awake?</i>

The moment she unlocked her phone, Tao Hui hesitated to look, cautiously shifting her gaze downward bit by bit. But what she saw?!

A completely irrelevant response!

There was no way Han Buji, a man nearing thirty, couldn’t recognize such an obvious pickup line. So why hadn’t he answered directly?

It was clear! He simply didn’t like her!

Tao Hui’s puffed-up cheeks deflated, her lips pursed in a pout. She buried her face in her pillow, like a deflated pufferfish.

Buzz, buzz, buzz. Tao Hui’s phone vibrated incessantly—a video call from Han Buji.

She peeked out from under the covers, tapped “Accept,” and settled back against the pillows, wrapped in her blanket. Before she could fully react, Han Buji’s face filled the screen.

In the dim light, Han Buji’s bangs fell carelessly across his forehead, giving him the air of a rebellious youth rather than the polished gentleman he portrayed on screen. Yet when he looked at you intently, you couldn’t shake the illusion that he was gazing at you with profound affection.

The first time Tao Hui saw Han Buji in a movie theater, her heart had raced at the sight of those eyes. She hadn’t understood why then, but that gaze had felt strangely familiar.

Now, with her phone propped against her pillow, almost touching her nose, that same sense of familiarity returned, quickly overshadowed by the pounding of her heart.

Lost in thought, she murmured involuntarily, “Han Buji.”

The WiFi in the rural courtyard wasn’t great. As soon as she spoke, Tao Hui snapped back to reality and saw her own delayed, stunned expression appear on the screen.

I look like a total fangirl!

Her face flushed crimson. Meeting Han Buji’s probing gaze, her eyes darted nervously as she tried to sound nonchalant. “I…”

“I like you,” Han Buji interrupted Tao Hui’s stammering, his voice deep and earnest. “Tao Hui, I like you.”

Tao Hui’s eyes widened. She froze for three seconds before abruptly slamming her phone face-down on the pillow and springing up from the bed like a startled carp. Clutching her mouth, she kicked wildly at the blanket, silently screaming “Aaaaaah!” in her mind like a hyperactive groundhog with even better lung capacity than Miao Miao.

After a long moment, just as she was about to forget the video call in her excitement, Han Buji’s voice drifted through the phone’s speaker, softened by the fuzzy pillowcase as if coated in tenderness. He chuckled softly. “Hearing me say I like you makes you this happy?”

Tao Hui lifted her phone again, her smile still bright and uncontainable. She faced the camera openly and replied honestly, “Yes!”

“Good morning, Director! Good morning, Brother Cameraman! Good morning, Auntie!” Tao Hui greeted everyone cheerfully as she hopped into the breakfast hall like a joyful little rabbit.

The half-hour video call with Han Buji the night before had left her buzzing with excitement. They had talked about old times, and Han Buji had been incredibly gentle, listening intently the whole time. Tao Hui loved the deep affection that flowed in his eyes when he listened so earnestly.

The pre-sleep video call left Tao Hui in an exceptionally good mood this morning.

Even when she ran into Li Sijin at the restaurant entrance, she cheerfully greeted him, “Morning, Tycoon Li! Your eyes are still as tiny as ever!”

Li Sijin: “……” Motherfucker.

Breakfast wasn’t served at a set time; everyone could eat whenever they woke up. These actors were notorious for sleeping in when not working. Filming didn’t start until 10 a.m., and reality shows required minimal makeup. Some even dragged themselves out of bed as late as 9:30 a.m., still rubbing their messy hair.

Tao Hui had woken up relatively early. When she entered the restaurant, only a few people were there. Han Buji was leisurely sipping a bowl of plain congee.

This man truly had a unique aura. Even drinking congee in a rustic farmhouse, he exuded the refined air of someone savoring a Michelin-starred soup.

Noticing Han Buji’s gaze turning toward her, Tao Hui skipped over, flashing a sweet smile. “Morning, Han Buji!”

She then pointed to the breakfast buffet and mouthed, “I’ll grab some food first and come over.”

A 21-year-old girl, radiating the vibrant energy of youth, her smile carried the warmth of sunshine. No one could resist such a charming face.

Han Buji held his spoon, watching Tao Hui hum as she placed fried eggs and corn on her plate. He couldn’t help but lower his gaze and smile.

Tao Hui chose her breakfast quickly, returning with only two or three items on her tray. She even copied Han Buji by taking a bowl of plain congee.

She had never particularly liked plain congee, even avoiding it. It lacked the chewy, glutinous texture of rice and the creamy richness of soy milk, tasting bland and unappetizing. Tao Hui had always preferred strong-flavored breakfasts like egg-filled pancakes or savory crepes.

But today, seeing Han Buji drink plain congee, she suddenly thought it might actually taste good.

“Han Buji, does your stomach still hurt?” Tao Hui asked after taking a sip of congee, as if suddenly remembering something. She pointed to the breakfast station. “I saw they have warm milk over there. Do you want some?”

Han Buji didn’t answer immediately. He raised an eyebrow, studied Tao Hui for a moment, then slowly replied, “Your thermos is still at my place.”

Thermos and warm milk… Tao Hui suddenly recalled their lingering, sweet kiss from the night before, their gradually quickening, heavy breaths, and that tingling, heart-fluttering sensation…

Han Buji is definitely saying this on purpose!

Huffing out a breath, Tao Hui lowered her head and took a bite of corn, muttering under her breath, “Pervert.”

“You’ve got something on your lip,” Han Buji suddenly pointed out.

“Huh?” Tao Hui picked up her metal porridge spoon and checked her reflection. The rice porridge smeared on the spoon made it hard to see clearly. She blinked in confusion. “Where?”

Han Buji turned his head, set down his spoon, and gently wiped the corner of Tao Hui’s mouth with his thumb, smiling. “Here.”

His fingers were long and slender, the pale skin revealing faint blue veins beneath. They were undeniably handsome male hands. Unlike musicians whose fingers might develop calluses from playing instruments, actors’ hands remained smooth. Yet Tao Hui had the strange sensation of feeling the delicate fingerprints on his fingertips.

Yesterday, snow had fallen steadily in Snow Village all day. Today, the weather was clear and bright, sunlight streaming through the frost-covered window and illuminating half of Han Buji’s face.

Tao Hui stared blankly at him. She heard Han Buji lower his voice, whispering softly, “Stop looking at me. I want to kiss you.”

Before the words had even faded, Tao Hui, as if bewitched, leaned in swiftly and pressed a quick kiss to the corner of Han Buji’s mouth.

The move was daring, but fortunately, few people were up early for breakfast, and those who were had their eyes fixed on the fragrant food.

Tao Hui snapped out of her daze, glancing at the corner of Han Buji’s mouth, which was curled into a smirk. Her face flushed crimson, like autumn maple leaves, and she spent the rest of breakfast with her head bowed, avoiding any further conversation with him.

I can’t let myself get carried away like this again, she thought. If Han Meimei and the others found out, even strangling me with a necktie wouldn’t be enough to satisfy their fury.

With this in mind, Tao Hui became much more cautious, obediently following Han Buji at a respectful distance after breakfast.

They ran into Xu Chang and the others, who were just waking up, and exchanged brief greetings. As they reached the courtyard gate, Han Buji suddenly stopped and turned to look back.

In that instant, Tao Hui felt an overwhelming sense of déjà vu, as if she had witnessed this exact scene before.

Her steps faltered, and in a hazy memory, she recalled a midsummer evening by the sea. The salty breeze carried the scent of the ocean as a young man sat by the shore, his handsome features cast in shadow.

“Han Buji,” Tao Hui called out, frowning in concentration. After a long pause, she slowly asked, “Have we met before?”